Sisters salutes...

• Janice Druian wrote:

A rock and my tire had an unfortunate encounter on my favorite gravel, rural road. As I waited for a towing service six different individuals stopped & offered assistance. The helpers were equally divided between men and women (including what appeared to be a biracial young woman with pink hair).

Now I have been very depressed, caused by our late and seemingly never-ending winter snow and the daily deluge of how divided and hateful our country seems. But in this one instance I got to experience how thoughtful and kind people can be. I am sure we don’t all vote the same, but each of these people went a long way to reaffirming my hope that maybe we can come together as a nicer more caring people.

• Edie Jones wrote:

Today is the first day of my really being “alone” having all of my extended family now at their own homes, across the world. It’s 11 a.m. and I’m still in my bathrobe. The only sound I hear is the motor of the refrigerator and the kitchen fan.

My physical and emotional demeanor is that of pure exhaustion, following my husbands’ Celebration of Life service and a horrendous cold that kept me from accepting the many generous hugs offered by those in attendance. How grateful I am to the Episcopal Church and our many friends in Central Oregon who gathered to help us say “goodbye.”

With nothing on my schedule and no one to share this day with, I sat down with last weeks’ Nugget. What a blessing! For the first time in weeks I took time to read it from cover to cover. No matter where I turned there was something for me.

First, Jim Cornelius’s editorial, “Examining the sheep’s liver.” An intriguing title; a provocative, well written, well-thought-out article!

Next, I noticed that my column “the place where we live” had been printed. Thank you, Jim. I needed to share my feelings of gratitude toward all who live in Sisters Country, and The Nugget gave me that avenue.

Sue Stafford’s “Being Vulnerable” was so timely. Now that I’m alone, many fears creep into my thoughts. Her recommendation to embrace vulnerability was so good to hear, reminding me of all who are out there very willing and wanting to help. I loved that she said, “Being vulnerable allows me to let more good in and let more good out.” Thanks, Sue.

And then, there was Tom Donahue’s “Goodnight Molly: A Tribute.” I read it with tears streaming down my face. Of course for the love he was expressing for his dog, while also bringing close-up and personal the loss of my dear husband, Ted. It really helped to put into perspective the importance of grief as we move into life without those who we have shared so many hours of connection and love. And, as I read, I gave a special prayer of thanksgiving that I have Walker, Ted’s golden doodle, here to accompany me and assure me that I really am not alone.

Jean Russell Nave’s reminder that, “The truth is that we are what we think” and the importance of staying positive, along with Katy Yoder’s metaphor of “the chains that bind” and the power of reliving and choosing which stories to keep alive, were invaluable.

Along with all of those wonderful philosophical musings I also learned about the “color-rich northern shovelor,” in Sisters Country Birds, that there will be storytelling and poetry readings plus many other events at Paulina Springs and many possibilities to be busy listed under Sisters Area Entertainment and Events and on the Announcements page, along with countless other pieces of information. What a valuable couple of hours were just spent with our local Nugget.